Programs Coordinator

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY Ascender is a vibrant nonprofit in East Liberty dedicated to shaping Pittsburgh’s future economy and its people through entrepreneurship. Our founder-focused approach includes innovative educational programs for entrepreneurs, mentorship and expert coaching, incubation, and a collaborative opportunity hub, our coworking community. Entrepreneurship takes many forms. We enjoy working with early-stage tech, non-tech, and tech-enabled companies led by dedicated and diverse founders. Equity is essential, and we often make decisions around that value. The majority of our members come from an underrepresented group. We are committed to creating a supportive environment where all our members can thrive. Many organizations say they are a fast-paced, tech-enabled, and highly effective team. We mean it. Our team comprises great problem-solvers, self-starters, adapters, independent/team learners, and critical thinkers. We are all driven by the mission of helping people build companies. POSITION OVERVIEW Ascender seeks an energetic, entrepreneurial, and self-starter to join the team as the Program Coordinator for the Opportunity Hub member community. This role reports to the Innovation Director and is responsible for programmatic administration, business execution, and community outreach to ensure all Ascender programs operate smoothly, efficiently, and excellently. The Program Coordinator will support the Opportunity Hub and other programs that help our entrepreneurs succeed. Different responsibilities may be more prominent during different seasons of the year, reflecting the cyclical nature of our programming and events. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Community Outreach Identify, engage, and collaborate with key community stakeholders, including local businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities, who have access to entrepreneurial communities that could benefit from Ascender’s Incubation and Opportunity Hub. Attend and co-host community events or partner with local businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions to help recruit new entrepreneurs to apply to Ascender programs. Recruit Pittsburgh entrepreneurs and complimentary service providers/champions into Ascender’s Opportunity Hub. Collaborate on a board and staff committees to help inform and support outreach for member growth. Program Administration & Coordination Assist in developing and executing the Ascender programming curriculum for community and member programming. Coordinate resources, logistics, event set up and breakdown, and tech support, such as AV Tech, for virtual and hybrid events and execute calendar management for high-quality program and event delivery. Provide logistical recommendations to the Ascender team to connect Opportunity Hub members with existing Ascender resources, including access to mentors, business help, or network expansion. Mentor and support program interns. Provide coverage of the Opportunity Hub physical space as needed. Member Support Serve as one of the main program points of contact for Opportunity Hub members. Take ownership of Ascender’s Slack community, fostering engagement and communication among members. Document the intake, feedback, and insights of Program participants on Ascender's CRM systems. Verify and maintain the accuracy of all contact details, add new experts, and archive inactive ones. Organizing Drive - categorize documents and manage access permissions and organization of Ascender programming drive. Coordinate with our marketing team to communicate necessary information to our members, entrepreneurs, and community through newsletters, events, and other internal and external outlets. Program Evaluation and Performance Monitor Ascender’s Entrepreneur Success metrics and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure entrepreneur success, engagement, and progress. Monitors and tracks data to ensure programmatic success. Some activities include data analysis, visualization, and providing recommendations for improvement. Collaborative Program Management Work closely with other Program Coordinators to ensure seamless delivery of overlapping programs. Coordinate with the operations team to execute events, such as member events, expert office hours, and workshops. Provide support across different programs as needed, ensuring a cohesive experience for all members. QUALIFICATIONS Ascender seeks someone passionate about entrepreneurship. Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience or 6 yrs equivalent experience. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and experience in community outreach and engagement, project coordination, and related fields. The ideal candidate is a highly functioning administrator who is proactive and able to self-manage, prioritize work assignments across multiple individuals and timelines, and troubleshoot and course correct to find practical solutions. We seek an effective learner with research skills and a team player committed to a positive, productive, open, and supportive work environment. The Program Coordinator should have presentation skills and be adept at Google Workspace, including building forms and slides. Hubspot or CRM experience is preferred. We are looking for someone who can find entrepreneurs, particularly those who have been overlooked, and help them align their business dreams with a plan and network for success. Drivers' licenses or transportation access will be required to complete outreach activities and attend community meetings. Candidates should be able to secure PA Child Abuse History and Criminal History Clearances for intern supervision. BENEFITS 100% medical, dental, and vision benefits via UPMC are paid for by Ascender Flexible hybrid work schedule Generous PTO, including 15 vacation days, 5 sick days, 11 holidays, and paid weeklong office closures in August and December Annual professional development stipend Monthly cell-phone reimbursement 401k with employer match after the first year of employment Paid parental and medical leave EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT Ascender is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or caregiver status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Studies have shown that women, trans, nonbinary folks, and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and the team. If you think you would be a good fit for the role, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF via Indeed by EOD Monday, September 2, 2024. The position is anticipated to start at the end of October. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance Vision insurance Schedule: Evenings as needed Monday to Friday Weekends as needed Experience: programs or outreach: 2 years (Required) Ability to Commute: Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (Required) Work Location: Hybrid remote in Pittsburgh, PA 15206